Hannover held in check at Hamburg
Saturday, April 16, 2011
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Hannover 96 failed to consolidate their grip on a UEFA Champions League qualifying berth as they were held 0-0 at Hamburger SV, while struggling VfB Stuttgart clinched a crucial success.
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Hannover 96 proved unable to strengthen their claims on third spot in the Bundesliga as they were held to a goalless draw at Hamburger SV, on a day when struggling VfB Stuttgart earned a vital win.
Hannover stood a solitary point clear of FC Bayern München in Germany's third and final UEFA Champions League qualifying berth before kick-off and they are now in danger to dropping to fourth before the weekend is out. Didier Konan Ya and Mohammed Abdellaoue failed to convert the better of the chances for Mirko Slomka's side, who will now be hoping Bayern fail to defeat second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkuson on Sunday.
At the bottom, Stuttgart lifted themselves four points clear of danger with a 3-1 success at 1. FC Köln, Christian Träsch opening the scoring on 51 minutes and Martin Harnik doubling their advantage quickly afterwards, before Zdravko Kuzmanović made sure of the points with a 63rd-minute spot kick. Second-bottom FC St Pauli also looked set for a priceless victory in their outing at the club directly above them, VfL Wolfsburg, until Jan Polák secured a 2-2 draw with an 89th-minute leveller.
Eintracht Frankfurt slipped closer to danger after they succumbed 1-0 at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and 1. FC Nürnberg triumphed 2-0 at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. SV Werder Bremen drew 1-1 with UEFA Champions League semi-finalists FC Schalke 04 in the evening game.
